Killing
The Messenger
Op/Ed by tOM Trottier
The new legislation to protect whistle-blowers wouldn't have protected Gary Lovett. He got fired for telling the media that Canada's base in Afghanistan didn't have adequate fire-fighting gear. Though his pay came from the Canadian government, it flowed through a contractor, SNC Lavelin, so the generals could get him fired by snapping their fingers.
Why did the generals fire him? Was it untrue? No. Was there a danger to Canadian troops? Yes. Did he go through channels earlier? Yes. Did he have a duty to the soldiers? Yes. Was he crazy? No. So he was fired because he tried to protect our soldiers. The generals killed the messenger, then denied the message publicly, while admitting it in internal emails.
Whistle blowers need better protection no matter who they work for.
When people find their duty to protect the public, their conscience, outweighs the feelings and orders of who they work for, they need to be encouraged to bring the facts forward. If they suffer any reprisals, they should be able to sue their employer and get a settlement which compensates them for what they gave up for protecting the public, the loss of a job, promotions, perhaps even their profession if other employers shun them. The government should assist them, since they are suffering because they tried to protect the public.
The common-law duty of loyalty to one's employer should be superseded by the duty of all of us to protect the public from wrongdoings.
Not only should whistle blowers be protected, they should be honoured.
Let's honour Gary Lovett, Russell Mills, Allen Cutler, Myriam Bédard, Bernard Dussault, Dr. Michelle Brill-Edwards, Joanna Gualtieri, Brian McAdam, Michael Sanders, Dr. Shiv Chopra, Corporal Robert Reid, Dr. Margaret Haydon, Marilla Lo, Bob Stenhouse, Louise Ross, Dr. Barry Armstrong, and many others with the Order of Canada, not a pink slip, or a job twiddling fingers in a closet, or a welfare cheque. Let's say "Thanks!" not "Go away."
Whistle blowing takes courage and fortitude. Whistle-blowers deserve our admiration, and especially our protection, when they try to protect us, no matter who their employer is.
tOM Trottier
Ottawa, Ontario
tOM@Abacurial.com
"They that
can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve
neither liberty nor safety."
~ Benjamin Franklin
tOM Trottier
is a computer
consultant in Ottawa who enjoys bridge and photography. He sometimes gets
mad at the injustices of the world and wishes people could compromise
for the sake of peace.
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Page updated March 31, 2004